Unitree targets 20,000 humanoid robots with fourfold capacity increase

Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics aims to ship approximately 20,000 humanoid robots in 2026, nearly quadrupling its 5,500 units shipped last year. The company’s CEO, Wang Xingxing, highlighted significant advancements demonstrated during the recent Lunar New Year Gala, where Unitree’s robots performed complex and high-difficulty movements such as martial arts routines, parkour, aerial flips, and trampoline somersaults. These performances marked a notable improvement from the previous year’s basic movements and showcased upgrades in algorithms, hardware, and systems, enabling autonomous execution without human intervention. Despite these impressive demonstrations in controlled entertainment settings, experts caution that real-world deployment remains a major challenge due to environmental unpredictability. Unitree is actively developing embodied AI technologies to enable robots to navigate complex environments autonomously, aiming to facilitate large-scale practical applications. Market research indicates Unitree’s production outpaces major U.S. competitors, underscoring China’s growing leadership in humanoid robotics. While the gala performances